Effect of early administration of progesterone on the function of the corpus luteum of llamas.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate if early administration of progesterone immediately after ovulation affects corpus luteum lifespan in llamas. Female llamas (n = 16) were induced to ovulate by Buserelin injection in the presence of an ovulatory follicle (Day 0). On Day 2, ovulation was confirmed and animals were randomly divided into two groups: treated animals (n = 8) received an intravaginal device containing 0.3 g of progesterone from Day 2 to Day 6 post-induction of ovulation and control group (n = 8) received a device with 0 g of progesterone. Blood samples were collected daily to determine plasma progesterone concentration and transrectal ultrasonographies were performed from Day 7 to Day 12 post-induction of ovulation. Mean maximum diameter of the corpus luteum was significantly lower and was reached before in the treated group than in the control group. The mean highest plasma progesterone concentration and the day that concentration was achieved were similar between groups. However, mean plasma progesterone concentration was significantly higher in the treated group than in the control group on Days 3 and 4 and lower on Days 8 and 9 post-induction of ovulation. The day that plasma progesterone concentration returns to 1 ng/ml differed between groups, occurring earlier in the treated group. In conclusion, the early increase of plasma progesterone concentration during the luteal phase, promoted the premature activation of the luteolytic process affecting corpus luteum function in llamas as it was previously reported in other species.

[GDF-15, MRproADM, CTproET1, and CTproAVP in patients with asymptomatic diastolic dysfunction]. / GDF-15, MRproADM, CTproET1 und CTproAVP bei Patienten mit asymptomatischer diastolischer Dysfunktion.

BACKGROUND: The role of biomarkers in asymptomatic diastolic dysfunction (DD) has not been investigated so far. The aim of the study was to evaluate the clinical associations and the diagnostic property of different biomarkers in patients with asymptomatic DD. METHODS: Within a population based observational study, healthy participants (50-85 years) with an LVEF ≥ 50 % and no cardiovascular risk factor were prospectively identified. Patients were classified as having either DD (grade ≥ 1, n = 103) or no DD (CON: n = 85). All patients underwent physical examination including medical history, six-minute-walk-testing, QoL (SF-36), comprehensive echocardiography and blood sampling to measure routine values and specified biomarkers (NTproBNP, MRproANP, GDF-15, MRproADM, CTproET1, CTproAVP). RESULTS: In the DD-group plasma concentration of GDF-15 (p = 0,002), MRproADM (p < 0,001), and CTproAVP (p = 0,003) were significantly higher than in the CON-group. In contrast, NTproBNP (p = 0,390), MRproANP (p = 287), and CTproET1 (p = 0,393) did not differ. GDF-15, MRproADM and CTproAVP were significantly associated with the presence of DD. However, the significance of the seen associations was lost after multiple adjustments. NTproBNP, MRproANP, and MRproADM were significantly related to E / e' as a continuous measure of diastolic function. The significance of the seen associations was lost after multiple adjustments. In ROC analyses, none of the investigated biomarkers was able to relevantly improve the diagnosis of DD. CONCLUSION: In patients with asymptomatic DD plasma concentrations of GDF-15, MRproADM and CT-proAVP were significantly higher when compared with controls. In contrast, NTproBNP, MRproANP and CTproET1 did not differ. After adjustment for age, sex, BMI and renal function, no significant association between DD or E / e' and different biomarkers could be observed. Furthermore, none of the investigated biomarkers was able to substantially improve the diagnosis of DD.

Metástasis cutáneas / Cutaneous metastases

Las metástasis cutáneas son tumores malignos que comprometen la piel sin mantener una relación de contigüidad con la neoplasia que les da origen. Las células que se desprenden del tumor primario llegan a la piel a través de vasos linfáticos o venosos. En pacientes con neoplasias de órganos internos se estima una prevalencia global cercana al 5%. La principal causa es el cáncer de mama, y el melanoma le sigue en orden de frecuencia. Este último es el tumor con mayor potencial para generar metástasis en la piel. El cáncer de pulmón, el cáncer de colon, el cáncer de la cavidad oral, el cáncer de riñón y el cáncer de ovario son también causas habituales. Clínicamente la mayoría de las lesiones adopta una morfología nodular. Existen además variantes bien caracterizadas como las metástasis en coraza, las metástasis erisipelatoides y las metástasis telangiectásicas, entre otras. Para confirmar el diagnóstico se requiere el estudio histopatológico. En el mismo se observa la presencia de células neoplásicas que comprometen la dermis o hipodermis. En ocasiones las lesiones son poco diferenciadas y suele ser necesaria la utilización de marcaciones inmunohistoquímicas para llegar al diagnóstico etiológico. La presencia de metástasis cutáneas implica un mal pronóstico. No obstante, los pacientes con melanoma y cáncer de mama suelen tener una sobrevida relativamente mayor...